Conversations with Kelly Saxer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Saxer.

Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 1927 the farm produced alfalfa hay, along with many other farms in Gilbert. During that time, Gilbert was known as the “Hay capital of the world” as producers were able to harvest alfalfa more than six times a year. The Johnston Family was able to add a small farmhouse as well as a tractor shed before the turn of a new decade.

During the 50’s cash crops changed to cotton and wheat.
New buildings were added to the homestead. A cement block tractor shed was added and the existing barn was replaced with a recycled aluminum Quonset hut barn made from melted down WWII aircraft.

In 1960 the farm was purchased by a young farmer, Jim Johnston and his wife Virginia.
Shortly after, they built a home on the farm to raise their 3 boys – Joe, Steve and Paul. The crops changed once again and the farm grew pima cotton, durum wheat for pasta, barley, field corn, sugar beets, milo and alfalfa.
In order to preserve the land that they cherished, the Johnston family created a community where the farm could remain at the heart of everything.
Working with land planners, builders and the town of Gilbert, Agritopia was created to not only preserve the farm in a new urban setting, but to create a village atmosphere with commerce and a vibrant neighborhood surrounding the farm.

The commercial portion of the farm has three different growing areas, that have been growing to Certified Organic standards since 2002. There are row crops, the citrus and stone fruit orchard, and we even have an area where we grow Medjool dates and olives. The farm now employs 6 full-time employees and grows delicious produce year-round. The farm grows more than 45 different crops during the year and sell their produce all over the state of Arizona via our Farm Box program, the Gilbert Farmer’s Market, the Sun Produce Cooperative, the AZ Food Bank Network and a variety of local restaurants. You can also purchase their produce on property at our Farm Store (open 6 days a week).

The Community Garden area of the farm is for those who would like to grow their own produce and share with others their gardening journey. While the plots belong to individual gardeners, the walking paths between are free for everyone to walk through and enjoy.

The Biblical Garden is a special section of the farm. The climate of our Arizona desert, and the middle east are very similar. In the Biblical Garden, located north of the Community Garden, one can find numerous plants and their citations in the bible. It’s a peaceful place to sit and reflect and enjoy the scenery.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When Agritopia was developed by the Johnston Family, it was very clear that they wanted to maintain an 11-acre farm in the center of the community. This land was placed in a farmland trust to ensure the land would continue to be farmed. Over the years, the form of the farm has changed – from a tenant farmer situation where the land was leased to farmers wanting to run their own farm business to what it is now. In 2015, the Arizona Urban Agriculture Foundation was formed to continue the heritage of farming on this land in perpetuity, and to demonstrate the continuation of urban farming in the state of Arizona. The commercial farm is now run by the Foundation and employs 6 full-time farm associates that grow, harvest, and sell the farm’s produce as well as maintain the fields and ensure that the farm is self-sustaining and generates enough revenue to support itself and the goals of the Foundation.

At the Arizona Urban Agriculture Foundation, we firmly believe in the power of community and the incredible impact we can achieve when we support one another. Our mission is to cultivate sustainable urban agriculture and foster a resilient food system.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My name is Kelly Saxer. I was born and raised in Carefree, Arizona. I went to the University of Arizona where I earned an Accounting & Finance degree. I then earned a Masters degree in Agribusiness from Arizona State University. In 2001, I started Desert Roots Farm in Queen Creek, AZ. This was a 32-acre farm where we grew over 45 different crops, year-round for sale via our CSA program and farmer’s market. We delivered our produce all over the valley. In 2014, I sold Desert Roots Farm and took a small break to start my family. In 2019 I was contacted by the Johnston family at Agritopia Farm asking if I would help them develop a comprehensive farm plan to ensure Agritopia Farm could be self-sufficient and work toward the goals of the Arizona Urban Agriculture Foundation. I developed a farm plan and in July 2020, I joined Agritopia Farm as the head farmer. For the last 5 years, I’ve been working to bring my plan (and the farm) to life. The farm is now self-sufficient and plays an important role in the local organic food supply. I’m very proud of my role in the local farming community over the last 24 years – I’ve worked to feed people, nourish the land, train future farmers, and be a part of my community.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The farming community is small and I’ve found that most farmers are willing to help eachother. This type of community is refreshing as we’re all in this together and there’s no one way to farm – every situation and environment is different and it’s important to share knowledge. I credit several local farmers for helping me along the way with their knowledge and support. As I’ve gotten older and spent more years in this field, I’ve tried to do the same for others through advice and support. My advice for finding a mentor would be to attend local conferences or gatherings (or even on-line forums), be friendly and talk to people – listen to their stories and share your own. Before you know it, you’ll find that you’re learning things and developing relationships that will allow you learn and share experiences.

Pricing:

• Our weekly farm box program starts at $28/week. The farm box contains 7-8 different produce items (all locally grown and freshly harvest). This provides enough produce for 1-2 people for a week and allows the customer to incorporate delicious, local produce in their diet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agritopiafarm.com
• Instagram: agritopiafarm
• Facebook: Agritiopia Farm